This is a review of FonePaw iPhone Data Recovery, a data recovery tool for iPhones and iOS devices.
I’ve worked in tech over several decades, providing training and support, and writing software reviews and how-tos for business users. I’ve taken an in-depth look at FonePaw iPhone Data Recovery to let you know whether it will meet your needs.
I found that most users of the software are generally dissatisfied. It may be able to recover some of your lost iPhone data, but I’ve never encountered an application that was 100% successful. The trial version will show you if it can find the lost data in your current situation.
In this FonePaw iPhone Data Recovery review, I’ll explore the types of phone data the application can restore and weigh up your chance of success. I’ll also list other features that are offered and whether it’s suitable for beginners or advanced users.
Let’s get started.
Contents
FonePaw iPhone Data Recovery Overview
FonePaw iPhone Data Recovery rescues lost and deleted information from your iPhone. The software runs on your Mac or PC and scans your phone once it has been connected via USB.
FonePaw offers several versions and licenses for iPhone Data Recovery:
- Single-user license for one Mac: $69.95 (one-time purchase)
- Family license for five Macs: $119.95 (one-time purchase)
- Single-user license for one PC: $59.95 (one-time purchase)
- Family license for five PCs: $99.95 (one-time purchase)
These prices are in the same ballpark as other iPhone data recovery applications, and a number of reputable alternatives are less expensive, costing around $40.
In this review, I will focus on the Mac version. A free trial will show you if your files can be recovered before paying for the application.
I am unable to find any comparative industry tests that show how effective FonePaw iPhone Data Recovery is compared with similar apps. Be aware that I’ve never found an app that could recover all of my iPhone data, and FonePaw users seem particularly dissatisfied.
Recovery Features
How is data recovery possible? When you delete information on your phone, the data is not actually removed. It’s simply marked as available space, and as you continue to use your phone it will be overwritten by new information.
Methods of data recovery offered:
- Recover directly by scanning the device for lost information
- Recover from an iTunes backup
- Recover from an iCloud backup and synced data
Supported devices: any iPhone, iPad, and iPod running the latest iOS 14.
Supported data types: Contacts, Messages, Message attachments, WhatsApp, WhatsApp attachments, Kik, Kik attachments, Line, Line attachments, Viber, Viber attachments, Messenger, Messenger attachments, call history, notes, reminders, calendars, Safari bookmarks and history, app documents, camera roll, PhotoStream, photo library, voicemail, voice memos, app photos, app videos, app audio, WeChat, WeChat attachments, QQ, QQ attachments.
User Experience
FonePaw iPhone Data Recovery is simple to set up and simple to use. You can choose which files to restore, whether you’ve scanned your phone for lost data or are using a backup.
Files can be previewed so you can make sure you’ve selected the right ones. And recovery is performed in three simple steps:
- Launch FonePaw and select iPhone Data Recovery
- Select a mode to scan for your lost files
- Preview the files that were located and recover the ones you want
The app can also create backups of your phone and repair frozen iOS devices.
Effectiveness
I have not yet found a data recovery application for mobile devices that consistently recovers all types of data. The better apps were only able to restore half of the files I deleted. How effective is FonePaw iPhone Data Recovery?
FonePaw users are generally dissatisfied with the purchase. The product received a rating of just 2.3 stars on Trustpilot [1], 1.25 stars on Sitejabber [2], and 2.5 stars on G2 [3].
Most complaints are focused on customer support and the app not working as expected. Some users were able to get a refund.
Published test results are scarce. In one review [4], the sidebar lists effectiveness as a con: “Failed to recover the old data in a test.” Unfortunately, the article itself doesn’t mention the test at all, so we don’t know how it was conducted or what it was testing.
Another con in the same article is that the file preview feature didn’t work for most files, but that will depend on the types of files that were located.
Unfortunately, the app crashed the first time I scanned my iPhone 12 mini.
The scan of my 128 GB iPhone took over an hour. Both deleted and existing files were displayed together. You’ll find it easier to locate your deleted files by changing the view to “Show Deleted Only”.
Customer Support
The FonePaw Support Page [5] offers a FAQ, Getting Started Guide, and User Guide. Support can be contacted via an online form.
FAQS
Is FonePaw iPhone Data Recovery safe?
Yes, it’s safe to use and won’t overwrite your data. Bitdefender Virus Scanner found no malware in the Mac version.
Is FonePaw iPhone Data Recovery free?
No. The free trial version will scan for lost data on your phone for free, but you need to purchase a license to recover it.
Can you use FonePaw iPhone Data Recovery on Android phones?
No, but another of FonePaw’s products, Android Data Recovery, does.
Alternatives
Here are some reputable, highly-rated alternatives I recommend you use instead of FonePaw iPhone Data Recovery.
Aiseesoft FoneLab scans faster than other programs I tested and can also back up your phone and transfer files from your phone to your computer. The software supports iPhones and rooted Android phones and Windows and Mac versions are available.
Tenorshare UltData can recover a range of data types from iOS and rooted Android devices and allows you to choose the types of data to recover to minimize the scan time. It runs on your PC or Mac.
Wondershare dr.fone is another reputable alternative and offers versions for Windows, Mac, and Android. It’s one of the slower apps I tried but doesn’t require you to root your Android phone.
Final Verdict
You may find FonePaw iPhone Data Recovery helpful, but don’t use it with the expectation that all of your data will be recovered every time. That’s not my experience with any iPhone data recovery software.
I can’t recommend this software due to the poor ratings and reviews left by users, especially when there are strong alternatives.
Instead, try Aiseesoft FoneLab, Tenorshare UltData, and Wondershare dr.fone listed above. Although they were unable to recover every type of deleted iPhone data in my tests, they are ahead of the field.
References
